E a s t o n C o u n c i l o n A g i n g 5 0 8 2 3 0 - 0 6 9 0 THE COORDINATOR N e w s l e t t e r L o c a t i o n s : A m e s F r e e L i b r a r y B a n k o f E a s t o n ( a l l ) B i g Y S u p e r m a r k e t B i l l ’ s H o u s e o f P i z z a C O A O f f i c e — F r o t h i n g h a m H a l l C V S — 5 4 9 W a s h i n g t o n S t . E a s t o n P o s t O f f i c e ( a l l ) E a s t o n T o w n H a l l E a s t o n Y M C A — E l m S t . E H A — E l i s e C i r c l e E H A — P a r k e r T e r r a c e E m m y ’ s H a i r S a l o n N o r t h E a s t o n S a v i n g s B a n k s R o c h e B r o s . S u p e r m a r k e t S h a w ’ s S u p e r m a r k e t 7 - 1 1 F o o d S h o p I f y o u w o u l d l i k e t h e n e w s l e t t e r m a i l e d o r e - m a i l e d t o y o u , p l e a s e f i l l o u t t h e f o r m i n s i d e a n d m a i l i t t o t h e : C o u n c i l o n A g i n g 1 5 B a r r o w s S t r e e t N o r t h E a s t o n , M A 0 2 3 5 6 F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 P r e s i d e n t s D a y The COA and all Town Offices will be closed on M o n d a y , F e b r u a r y 1 5 in observance of Presidents Day. We will be back with you on Tuesday the 16th! Happy Valentines Day and Happy Presidents Day! A A R P T a x P r o g r a m I n f o r m a t i o n As you may know, the COA is still currently closed to the public. However, we are hopeful that we will be able to offer this program this tax season, but it will look a bit different than in previous years. At this time, we are still trying to work out the details. If you would like to get on a list for more information, please call the COA and leave a message with your name and phone number. We will notify you once details become available. C O V I D - 1 9 V a c c i n e S C A M S We want to make you aware of some COVID-19 vaccine SCAMS that have been circulating recently. While vaccination details are still being worked out, here is what you an be sure of: You cannot pay to get your name on a list to get the vac- cine. You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine. Nobody legitimate will call you about the vaccine and ask for your bank account number, credit card number, or Social Security number. Please be aware that these are all SCAMS! At this time, there is no information on a vaccine clinic. Please call your doctor for vaccine information. In the meantime, please continue to stay safe!
Transcript
Easton Council on Aging 508 230-0690
THE COORDINATOR
Newsletter Locations: * Ames Free Library * Bank of Easton (all) * Big Y Supermarket * Bill’s House of Pizza * COA Office—Frothingham Hall * CVS—549 Washington St. * Easton Post Office (all) * Easton Town Hall * Easton YMCA—Elm St. * EHA—Elise Circle * EHA—Parker Terrace * Emmy’s Hair Salon * North Easton Savings Banks * Roche Bros. Supermarket * Shaw’s Supermarket * 7-11 Food Shop If you would like the newsletter mailed or e-mailed to you, please fill out the form inside and mail it to the: Council on Aging 15 Barrows Street North Easton, MA 02356
February 2021
Presidents Day
The COA and all Town Offices will be closed on Monday, February 15 in observance of Presidents Day. We will be back with you on Tuesday the 16th! Happy Valentines Day and Happy Presidents Day!
AARP Tax Program Information
As you may know, the COA is still currently closed to the public. However, we are hopeful that we will be able to offer this program this tax season, but it will look a bit different than in previous years. At this time, we are still trying to work out the details. If you would like to get on a list for more information, please call the COA and leave a message with your name and phone number. We will notify you once details become available.
COVID-19 Vaccine SCAMS
We want to make you aware of some COVID-19 vaccine SCAMS that have been circulating recently. While vaccination details are still being worked out, here is what you an be sure of:
· You cannot pay to get your name on a list to get the vac-cine.
· You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine. · Nobody legitimate will call you about the vaccine and
ask for your bank account number, credit card number, or Social Security number.
Please be aware that these are all SCAMS! At this time, there is no information on a vaccine clinic. Please call your doctor for vaccine information. In the meantime, please continue to stay safe!
Page 2 The Coordinator
Ames Free Library Information
Ames Free Library is open for pickup, quick browsing, and computer use. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am-5pm and Thursday from 10am-8pm. Maximum visit time is 45 minutes. Occupancy is limited to 10 people, so short wait times may be necessary. For more information, call 508 238-2000.
The library’s online program “Family Trees, Genealogy, and DNA” is still running thru February and March. If you have had your DNA tested and need help understanding the results or if you have always wanted to research your family tree, this program is for you. Meetings are via ZOOM every Friday at 11am. Call the library for the ZOOM codes.
Ames Free Mystery Book Club
Thursday, February 25 3-4pm
Via ZOOM (call library for ZOOM code)
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs got her start as a maid in an aristocratic London household
when she was 13 Her employer, suffragette Lady Rowan Compton,
soon became her patron, taking the remarkably bright youngster under her
wing. Lady Rowan's friend, Maurice Blanche, often retained as an
investigator by the European elite, recognized Maisie’s intuitive gifts
and helped her earn admission to the prestigious Girton College in Cam-
bridge, where Maisie planned to com-plete her education. The outbreak of
war changed everything. Maisie trained as a nurse, then left for France to serve
at the Front, where she found—and lost—an important part of herself. Ten years after the Armistice, in the spring of 1929, Maisie sets out on her own as
a private investigator, one who has learned that coincidences are meaning-ful, and truth elusive. Her very first case involves suspected infidelity, but reveals
something very different. In the after-math of the Great War, a former officer has founded a working farm known as
The Retreat, that acts as a convalescent refuge for ex-soldiers too shattered to resume normal life. When fate brings
Maisie a second case involving The Retreat, she must finally confront the ghost that has haunted her for over a
decade.
Ames Free Library Page
February 2021 Page 3
ECAT programs for February
Here is your monthly lineup of ECAT programming, brought to you by the COA and Easton’s cable TV network! For questions about these broadcasts, call ECAT at 508 230-7200.
Mondays at Noon: Sit & Fit chair exercise, with Kim Eaton. No matter your fitness level, this class has something for everyone.
Mondays at 2pm: Zumba with Marlene. If you have never done her class, you are in for a treat...and a great workout!
Mondays at 3pm : Music for Seniors A toe-tapping musical journey, complete with trivia and some laughs.
Tuesdays at 11am: Fur, Fin, & Feathers. A new episode of this popular animal show will air every Tuesday this month.
Tuesdays at Noon: Zumba GOLD with Marlene
Tuesdays at 2pm : Musical Baseball Baseball stories, songs, and trivia by former sportswriter Howie Newman.
Wednesdays at 11am: Gentle Chair Yoga with Dorene Kominsky, who has been teaching yoga for 18 years.
Thursdays at 11am: Tai Chi with Vince Jornales. Tai Chi is a martial art that can help with balance and flexibility.
Thursdays at 3pm: Delicious and Nutritious. Tune in for a new episode of this nutrition program airing every Thursday this month.
Fridays at 9pm: Reeling-The Movie Review Show. Get the scoop on the latest movies in this modern day “Siskel & Ebert”-style show, airing every Friday this month.
Karen A. McSherry, JD, LLMAttorney at Law
Concentrating in Probate of Estates Special Needs Planning and Guardianship
Estate & Nursing Home Planning Tel. (508) 238-3333
45 Bristol Drive, South Easton, MA [email protected] kmcsherrylaw.com
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Friendly Caller Program
The COA has developed a new program that we are really excited about called the Friendly Caller Program. The purpose of this program is to spread positivity and prevent social isolation. If you would like to sign up, you will receive a weekly call from one of our volunteers, where you can share stories or experiences, chat about current events, or just make small talk. This is also a great way to get to know your fellow seniors in town. If interested in enrolling in this new program, please call the COA.
RU OK Program
R U OK is a free service that can save lives. This is a free telephone calling service provid-ed by the Bristol Coun-ty Sheriff’s Department, in cooperation with the local police department and the COA. It is designed for senior citizens, disabled persons, and those who are housebound. Once you sign up, the Sheriff’s Department will call your home at around the same time each day. If no one answers the call, they will try again. If there is no answer the second time, they will send first responders to check on you. This program provides peace of mind in individuals and families. To enroll, please call 508 994-8932 or 888 809-8932.
Veteran’s Corner
A message from our Veterans’ Service Officer: You may be eligible for Chapter 115 benefits if you are a veteran or a surviving
spouse of a veteran with a single income below $2,081 per month and assets below $5,000, or if you are a married veteran with income below $2,818 and assets below $9,800. If you would like more information, please contact our VSO, Cory Ahonen, for more details. This benefit may help with monthly medical and dental costs as well as a monetary benefit to help cover daily living costs. Please call the COA at 508 230-0690, Ext 3 (private message option) for more information.
Interview Opportunity-UMASS Boston
The Aging Together Study at UMass Boston is looking for senior children
(aged 65+) of parents (aged 90+) with dementia. We want to learn what their relationship with their parent is like, what challenges they face, and what types of support they need. We are also interested in how COVID-19 may be impacting families, and how they are navigating the current challenges. This is a one-time, approximately 90-minute interview that will be conducted remotely via the method of the participant’s choice (phone or video calls). Participants will receive $40 as a thank you. Call or email for more information: 617-901-1082 or [email protected],
February 2021 Page 5
Bridgewater State University Senior College Winter/Spring 2021 Course Listings
Registration is open for the Winter/Spring session of BSU’s Senior College (50+)! These courses are designed to foster growth, creativity, and are also fun and engaging. Courses are led by BSU educators and faculty. All courses will be offered via ZOOM. The format for these virtual courses is one-hour sessions for 4 or 8 weeks. Introduction to Origami : Mondays, February 1, 8, & 22 and March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 (6-7pm)
Learning Basic American Sign Language : Mondays, February 1, 8, & 22 and March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 (12-1pm)
Genealogy Part 3: A Closer Look at Genetics and Genealogy : Tuesdays, February 2, 9, 16, & 23 (1:15-2:15pm) (*class will occasionally refer to topics discussed in Parts 1 & 2 last fall*)
Its All About Communication : Wednesdays, February 3, 10, 17, & 24 (7-8pm)
Beyond White Gloves : Thursdays, February 4, 11, 18, & 25 (4-5pm)
Sleeping and Dreaming : Fridays, February 5, 12, 19, & 26 (11:30am-12:30pm)
Civics 101 : Tuesdays, February 23 & March 2, 9, & 16 (4:30-5:30pm)
Wolf to the Modern-Day Dog: How Did We Get There? : Thursdays, February 25 & March 4, 11, & 18 (6-7pm)
Media in Middle East and North Africa Region : Mondays, March 1, 8, 15, & 22 (6-7pm)
How Can Technology Help You : Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17, & 24 (7-8pm)
The Rise of White Supremacy in the USA : Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17, & 24 (11am-Noon)
Mental Health Across the Lifespan : Fridays, March 3, 12, 17, & 26 (1-2pm)
The Movable American Frontier : Mondays, March 8, 15, 22, & 29 (11am-Noon)
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders : Fridays, March 19 & 26 and April 2 & 9 (11:30am-12:30pm)
Becoming Anti-Racist : Tuesdays, March 23 & 30 and April 6 & 13 (4:30-5:30pm) You can sign up for as many classes as you like for the affordable fee of $65. If interested in signing up, call the COA and the sign-up link can be emailed to you. A complete class listing and class descriptions can also be obtained by calling the COA. Once you follow the link to register and pay, you will be able to select your courses. Zoom codes and links to access classes will then be sent to you. For questions on how to register, contact Jennifer Reid, Director of Professional and Community Education at BSU, at 501 531-2570. Happy learning!
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Heart Health
February is heart health month. The risk of heart disease can increase with age. There are things you can consider to decrease your risk and live a healthy heart lifestyle! ¨ Be aware of family health history
and risk factors. ¨ See your doctor on a regular basis to
manage your health and get your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checked.
¨ Watch your weight. Try to stick to a heart healthy diet (fruits, veggies, high fiber foods, and whole grains) and avoid sodium and fatty foods.
¨ Exercise and stay active. Strive for a half hour each day. Check with your doctor before beginning a new fit-ness routine.
¨ Quit smoking and limit alcohol in-take.
¨ Try to keep stress in your life to a minimum. Chronic stress and anxie-ty can be hard on the heart. Studies show that social engagement and laughing can have a positive effect on heartbeat rhythm.
COA Storm Policy
Please keep in mind, in the event of inclement weather, COA staff will be in touch with our scheduled riders as early as possible to give an
update on whether we are transporting on the day of your scheduled ride. If you must cancel transportation, we appreciate, when possible, giving as much notice as you are able. A voice mail can be left at any time on the office answering system, 24/7 at 508 230-0690.
Valentine Fun Facts
¨ More than $1 billion worth of choco-late will be purchased in the United States.
¨ There are over 200,000 wedding pro-posals on Valentines Day annually.
¨ Approximately 185 million roses will be sold in the United States.
¨ The first box of chocolates was pro-duced for Valentines Day in the late 1800s by none other than Richard Cadbury.
¨ More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates will be sold.
¨ The most popular chocolate in those boxes, according to the National Con-fectioner’s Association, is the cara-mel.
Happy Valentines Day!
February 2021 Page 8
Recycling Information
Recycling correctly is important for our environment and our future generations. Have you ever heard the phrase “One bad apple spoils the barrel?” This is true for recycling, where one non-recyclable item mixed in with otherwise good material can spoil the whole batch. It may seem like a small detail—a wrong item in the recycling bin—but it represents a global problem that could prevent thousands of tons of material from seeing a second life. Remember to place only acceptable items in your recycling bin. The chart below is a continuation of the recycling information printed in our January newsletter.
February 2021 Page 9
Frothingham Memorial Hall Staff
Kristin Kennedy—Director of Health and Community Services Kelly McMorrow—Administrative Assistant Anne Daley—Deputy Director, Community Engagement & Programming Nicole Falcon—Administrative Assistant Cory Ahonen—Deputy Director, Financial & Veterans’ Service Lisa O’Hearne—Administrative Assistant Bruce Henshaw, Jr—Full Time Shuttle Driver Ted Beavers—Part Time Shuttle Driver Steve Costa—Part Time Shuttle Driver Tom Fobert—Part Time Shuttle Driver Russ Gouldrup—Part Time Shuttle Driver John Ippolito—Part Time Shuttle Driver
COA Board Members
Jean Shearing Marie Graca Frank Spillane Donna Welch Lynn Cleveland Kathleen Heery
Friends of Frothingham
Barbara Beaudoin Barbara Spidle Christopher Kone Christine Kone Maureen Papineau Hazel Varella
Martin Institute Programming
Join Dr. Brad Maron, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, for “Access to Healthcare during COVID-19” presentation. This presentation will discuss how contagious diseases often exploit the weaknesses of healthcare systems and how the most vulnerable in our society were affected to the greatest extent. This event is offered by the Martin Institute at Stonehill College. It will be live-streamed via ZOOM on Thursday, February 25 at 7pm. If interested in attending via ZOOM, email [email protected] or call 508 565-1131.
Elliott Physical Therapy
Back by popular demand! Get ready for Round Two of this strength class, taught by the physical therapists at Elliott PT! Strength training has many benefits as people age, including improving heart health, reducing falls, increasing bone density, and improving brain function. This ZOOM class will focus on strength and balance exercises that can be performed at home. This will be a four- week class, every Friday in February, starting on Feb. 5, at 10am. Please call the COA with your name, phone number, and email address to sign up for this class. ZOOM codes will be sent to you.
Page 10 The Coordinator
Ad info. 1-800-477-4574 • Publication Support 1-800-888-4574 • www.lpiseniors.com Easton COA, Easton, MA 06-5087
ApArtment HomesSouth Easton, MA 02375
Where Luxury Living Takes on an Active LifeDesigned for Active Adults 55 and Over
508-238-5540
JOHN T. VEALE, D.M.D., M.P.H. PETER G. VEALE, DMD
General DentistryVillage Place, Suite 1-5
448 Turnpike Street, South Easton, MA 02375
Telephone: 508-238-4070
508.222.0118www.communityvna.com
Home Care • Private Care • Palliative Care • Hospice Care • Adult Day Health
508-230-4174473 Washington St. Rt 138
Est. 1850Lots
Available
508-584-1561 [email protected] www.ocesma.orgServing all people – Serving all incomes
This newsletter for Easton Seniors is supported in part with state funds from the executive Office of Elder Affairs
Web page: www.easton.ma.us
PRSRT STD
U. S. POSTAGE PAID
N. EASTON, MA 02356
PERMIT #13
Easton Council on Aging 15 Barrows Street North Easton, MA 02356 Address Service Requested
We’re on the Web!! Come visit us at: http://www.easton.ma.us/departments/council_on_aging/index.php
Winterizing Your Home
From blizzard-force winds to heavy ice and snow, sever cold weather conditions are notorious for causing damage to homes. Here are some of the top winter risks to be aware of, and how to prevent them.
Ice Dams: Frozen snow at the eaves of your home can prevent proper draining, leading to leaks. Make sure your home is insulated well and use a roof rake to clear as much snow as you can.
Roof and Siding Damage: Roofing and siding bear the brunt of the bad weather. Have your roof inspected regularly and repaired if needed. Trim back any trees or limbs that are too close to your home or driveway.
Frozen Pipes: When pipes freeze, they can burst and cause substantial water damage. If you plan on being away from your home for a extended period of time in the winter months, shut off the water to your home and drain your pipes.
Make a habit of checking your homeowners insurance policy before every winter. This can refresh your understanding of what is covered and give you ideas on what you can further do to protect your home.
